Making Changes to Your Work Methods
Let's say your annual performance review didn't go as well as hoped for. Perhaps your boss was very critical. You may not have done anything specifically wrong but instead failed because you didn't try hard enough. Here are a few things you should put on your next year's to-do list if you want this to be the year your career finally takes off.
Get Used to Taking the Lead
It's easy to get lost in the cracks at a big firm. If you want to make a name for yourself next year and improve your chances of moving up the corporate ladder, you should demonstrate to your superiors that you can successfully steer large projects. With the start of the new year, many plans are likely to be proposed. Pick one up. Continue doing this the next time you think of it and the time after that. Show that you have leadership potential, and you'll probably be rewarded for it.
Recognize Your Own Success
As admirable as it is to be humble in general, there comes a time when playing down your professional achievements is counterproductive. Make it a point to brag about your accomplishments in the coming year so your boss will remember them when deciding whether or not to promote you. Of course, this isn't to say you should toot your own horn at every possible opportunity. But if you create a marketing brochure and your sales team raves about it, you shouldn't hold back from telling your boss how awesome you are.
Acquire the Skills Necessary to Make Impressive Presentations
Presenting well is often a matter of strategy and practice, whether you're talking to a small group or a large one. Be determined to make next year's presentation the best one yet if you've only given mediocre ones so far. Improve your ability to make eye contact and your graphic design abilities to captivate your listeners. Improving your presentation skills can set you apart from the competition.
Take a Stand When Necessary
Having to be the one to say "no" to an overly challenging request is something nobody wants to be known for. Your career will suffer if you make it a habit of saying "yes" to requests you know you can't fulfill because of their unreasonable nature. Make it a goal for next year to refuse to give in to unreasonable requests. If you already have a full schedule for the rest of the week but are still asked to take on a significant new project, it's best to be upfront about your situation and politely decline or request a substitution. It's human nature to want to be seen as a hero, but taking on too much can lead to disappointment (and unhealthy stress) for you and those around you.
Communicate with Your Supervisor More Frequently.
If you and your boss don't have many opportunities to sit down and talk, it can be difficult to understand one another's perspectives and gauge how you and your work are doing in comparison. Promise to be more proactive in asking for input from superiors next year. To find out how your boss feels about your work, you can send him emails or request regular one-on-one meetings. If you can read your manager's mind about you and the work you're doing, you can head off problems that could slow your advancement in the company.
At work, it is everyone's goal to achieve the greatest possible level of success. Even if this year wasn't the year you hoped it would be, you should look forward to what next year has in store. There's always hope that the coming year will be the one in which you finally get that raise you've been hoping for or that promotion at work.